World Music CD Reviews Reggae & Caribbean

The U.K.'s Blood and Fire label has been putting out crucial shots of reggae history since 1994, and their visits to Yabby You territoryinclude 1997's bountiful Jesus Dread. Dub It To The Top is loaded with deep-roots dubs of essential songs from the likes of the Heptones, Michael Prophet and Yabby You himself, all with the unmistakable spiritual quality that characterizes not only You's production style, but everything he's had a hand in. Some of the riddims heard here can be found in different versions on other Yabby You dub discs, but these King Tubby/Prince Jammy mixes will mesmerize all dub lovers, be they casual or hardcore. Every sonic second of this disc, from the dead-on drum and bass breakdowns to Tommy McCook's shadowy saxophone and the elusively echoed vocal fragments, is pure classic. This has got to be the dub reissue of the year.